Two minors drowned in an open pit at Rundu today while playing in the water.

The children accompanied their mother, who had gone to the swamp for fishing.

According to the mother, Franciska Hausiku, she left her three children under a tree near one of the open pits while she moved on to the next.

It is alleged that the youngest child, who is three years old, was playing in the water.

The seven-year-old sister then saw her younger sister struggling in the water and tried to help her out; however, both of them drowned.

The third child, also a seven-year-old boy, then ran to go call the mother.

By the time Hausiku arrived, she could only manage to get the body of the three-year-old out, while the body of the seven-year-old was recovered later.

Many swamps formed in the vicinity of the Rundu Town Council sewerage pump station due to sand mining.

The open pits have not been rehabilitated, and they fill up with water.